Territory



(No Model.)

, G. DOUGALL.

CLAMP.

No. 587,0 s4. Patented July 27, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE MATILE D OUGALL, OF PRESCOTT, ARIZONA TERRITORY.

CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,034, dated July 27,1897.

' Application filed JanuarylS, 1896- $eria1No. 575,966. (No model.)

To CLZZ- whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GEORGE MATILE DoU- GALL, of Prescott, in the countyof Yavapai and Territory of Arizona, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Clamps, of which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part ofthis specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in clamps.

The device is particularly adapted, although not necessarily, as atrousers-clamp for bicycle-riders. l

The invention consists of the devices and parts or their equivalents ashereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of one form of myinvention as applied toa fold ina trousers-leg. Fig. 2 is an endelevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view in elevation of the form ofclamp shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is an edge View of Fig. 3. Fig. 5is an elevation of a modified form. Fig. 6 is an edge view of Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is an elevation of another modified form, and Fig. 8 is anelevation of still another modification.

In Figs. 1, 2,3, and 4 of the drawings is illustrated a form of clampconstructed from a single piece of wire.

The device is constructed by bending the wire to form the transverseloop or member 12. The two strands 11 11 of the wire are then continueddownwardly adjacent to each other to form together a front member orlimb. These strands 11 are next bent backbetween the upper extremitiesof the members or limbs 9 9, and said extremities are advisably flaredand curved around into loop form,,as indicated at 10 10.

, It will be observed from the above description that the front of 'myimproved clamp is of T shape or substantialT shape, the loop 12constituting the head of the T and the part 11 the stem thereof. It willalso be observed from Fig. 2 that the transverse loop or member 12 isbent in a curve, so that its rear is in a plane back of the plane of thedepending stem of the loop, so as to conform to the roundness of theankle and thereby fit closer to the riders leg.

, The trousers-leg is indicated by the numeral 13, Figs. 1 and 2,showing the adaptation of my device thereto. In order'to adjust thedevice to the trousers-leg, the cloth of the trousers is broughttogether or looped either in front, at the side, or at the back. Theflaring ends of the rear members or limbs 9 are then brought up so as topermit said members or limbs to engage the loop of the cloth and clampit together. The loose cloth in front of the members 9 is then pressedinward 1y to form the cloth into an approximate T shape, and the loosecloth thus pressed inwardly-or, in other words, the head of the T of thecloth-is then in position to permit the clamp to be forced upwardly, sothat the front T-shaped member of the clamp formed by the limbs 11 andthe lateral loop 12 will press against the-outside of the cloth. By thisarrangement the head of the T-shaped fold will be clamped in the spaceconfined between the front T-shaped member of the clamp and the rearmembers or limbs 9- thereof, while the stem of the T-shaped fold of thecloth will be clamped between said rear members or limbs. The lateralloop, it will be observed, extends across the width of the head of thefold of the cloth and thereby holds the edges of the fold down.

It is of course apparent that instead of turning the plait out it couldjust as readily be turned in. In this case the fold will be clampedbetween the members 9 9 and the cloth then spread in front of themembers 9 and passed between said members 9 and the front T-shapedmember 11 12;

It will also be understood that the clamp is equally well adapted to thepants-leg when folded over inthe ordinary manner. In this case the foldwill simply be clamped between the rear limbs or members 9 on the onehand and the front T-shaped portion 11 12 on the other. The clamp shouldbe placed well forward on the fold, or just so that the end of ifpreferred, be hidden beneath the fold instead of the loop being arrangedon the outside of it.

Figs. 5 and ti illustrate a modification in which the members 9 9gradually converge upwardly to a point where they almost contact witheach other, such point being just below the flaring mouth; also, insteadof the limbs 11 11, which form the stem of the T, running parallel andadjacent to each other, as in the preceding figures of the drawings,they are twisted together, as indicated at 11. Either form of courseprovides for the limbs 11 11 acting as one, it being the purpose thatthey should form the equivalent of a single depending stem. Ifurthermore in this modification show the wire twisted to form thesimple coils 13 13. These coils will have the effect of keeping theupper portions of the members 0 9 close together at the point just belowthe flaring mouth, as above indicated, and serve to return them toposition after having been forced apart.

In Fig. 7 the limbs 11 11 are also twisted together, as at 1 1, butinstead of the lateral member corresponding to 12 being formed into aloop with straight sides, as in the other figures of the drawings, saidlateral member is bent into approximate diamond shape, as indicated at12.

In Fig. 8 the wire is bent laterally at upward inclines from the twist11 to form the lateral members 12 12 of loop form, the wire in each loopbeing twisted once. If desired, the device may, in order to conceal thewire, prevent rust, and increase the hold of said device upon the cloth,be covered with a tubing or cover of silk, cotton, or like material. Afragment of such tubing is shown in Fig. 8 and is indicated by thenumeral 14:.

It will be seen that the device as shown and described is so constructedas to form practically a rear member, composed of two limbs, and a frontmember, said front member provided at its upper end with a laterallyextending portion whereby the front member approximates in form theshape of the letter T. The limbs of the rear member act as one in so faras their pressure toward the forward T-shaped member is concerned, andsaid limbs of the rear member also act against each other, while thefront member exerts a pressure perpendicular to the direction ofpressure between the limbs of the rear member.

lVhile the clamp is intended primarily and especially forbicycle-riders, yet I do not wish to be understood as confining myselfto such use, but intend to cover it for all purposes for which it may befound adaptable. For instance, it may be used advantageously for thepurpose of keeping the extremity of the shirt-cuff within thecoat-sleeve, so as to protect the cuff from becoming soiled while aperson is at work, without the necessity of removing .the cuff. All thatis necessary for such adaptation is to shove the end of the cuff back asfar as the extremity of the coatsleeve and push the clamp up the sleeveand cuff as far as it will go. The pressure of the spring will be foundsufficient to keep the cuff from slipping out.

It will be seen from the description and illustration of myinventionthat it is exceedingly simple in construction, easy of application, andwhen applied acts as a safe and secure clamp.

hat 1 claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As an improved article of manufacture, a clamp consisting of a frontT-shaped, or substantially T-shaped, member constructed of wire, saidwire being bent backward from the stem of the front T-shaped member, andthen upward to form two rear members or limbs running parallel to thestem of the front member, but at a little distance from one another,leaving an opening between their ends, and also at a little distancefrom the front member, and being longer than said front member, andadapted to exert a pressure, when in use, toward one another, and at thesame time to exert together apressure toward the T-shaped front member,and at right angles to the pressure exerted between themselves.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a clamp constructed of wireand consisting of a front T-shaped, or substantially T- shaped, member,the arms constituting the head of the T being curved rearwardly, and thestem of the T at its lower end being bent backward from the frontT-shaped member, and upward to form two rear members or limbs runningparallel to the stem of the front member, but at a little distance fromone another, leaving an opening between their ends, and also at a littledistance from the front member, and being. longer than the front member,and adapted to exert a pressure, when in use, toward one another, and atthe same time to exert together a pressure toward the T-shaped frontmember, and at right angles to the pressure exerted between themselves.

3. As an improved article of manufacture, a clamp consisting of a frontT-shaped, or substantially T-shaped member, constructed from a loop ofwire, the strands forming the stem of the T being twisted together, andthen bent backward and upward to form two rear members or limbs runningparallel to the stem of the front member, but at a little distance fromone another, leaving an opening between their ends, and also at a littledistance from the front member, and being longer than said front member,and adapted to exert a pressure, when in use, toward one another, and atthe same time to exert together a pressure toward the T-shaped frontmember and at right angles to the pressure exerted between themselves.

4. As an improved article of manufacture, a clamp constructed of wire,and consisting of a front T-shaped, or substantially T- shaped, member,the stem of the T being coiled at its lower end, and then bent backwardand upward to form two rear members or limbs running parallel to thestem of the front member, but at a little distance from one. another,leaving an opening between their ends, and also at a little distancefrom the front member, and'bein g longer than said front member andadapted to exert a pressure,

when in use, toward one another, and at the same time to exert togethera pressure toward the T-shaped front member, and at right angles to thepressure exerted between themselves.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE MATILE DOUGALL.

Witnesses:

H. D. Ross, JAKE MARKS.

